The rubber match between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever was expected to be intense because the Fever won the first one. However, when Thomas made hard contact with Caitlin Clark and refs only upgraded it to a flagrant foul 2 after a review, the backlash against the Mercury veteran turned ugly. More than two weeks after the June 24 incident, Aliyah Boston finally shared how she felt about that foul on her teammate.

“That should’ve never been done,” the Fever forward said in the latest episode of Post Moves. “You don’t put your hand on someone’s throat and damn-near kick them on the floor. It’s a basketball game. What are we doing?”

“Obviously, that was the right call,” she added, pointing to the league’s decision to hand Thomas a Flagrant 2 on the play and a one-game suspension after refs missed it in real time.

Aliyah Boston’s comments definitely come at a unique time. The Fever is once again set to face the Phoenix Mercury on July 9. And while fans circled this game to see Clark and Thomas lock horns again, what they will get is Boston vs Thomas.

In the same game, where Clark took the hit, she injured her back, which has sidelined her for two weeks. Though she was listed as active for the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 8, because of a “Flip-Flop” decision by head coach Stephanie White, the 24-year-old won’t appear against the Mercury on July 9.

“Again, what’s in the best long-term interest of our players? Not just short-term, in the game-to-game (outlook), but what’s in the best long-term interest in a season and in a career?” the coach said as per The Athletic. “So, I’m thankful for our medical team to stay on top of that. They hold us accountable to making sure that we stay (committed) to whatever our restrictions are.”

So with Clark unavailable, Aliyah Boston will now be the one fans will look to carry the emotional weight of the rematch. But Coach White might be a little cautious with her.

Both meetings against the Mercury this season have come with a physical toll for the Fever. Boston already missed the Sparks matchup because of a lower right leg injury, and while she is expected to return on Thursday, Indiana will likely continue monitoring her workload.

Still, after making her feelings clear about what happened the last time these two teams met, Aliyah Boston’s return adds another layer to a matchup that has already produced plenty of headlines.